Method of and apparatus for connecting dynamos



(No Model.)

0. T. CHILD.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING DYNAMOS. No. 439,929. PatentedNov. 4, 1890,

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

CHARLES T. CHILD, OF BROOKLYN, NEIV YORK.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING DYNAMOS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,929, dated November4, 1890.

Application filed March 19, 1890. Serial No. 844,485. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES T. CHILD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brooklyn,1n the county of Kings and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Connecting Dynamos, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a method of and apparatus for connecting anddisconnecting a number of compound dynamo-machines with theirworking-circuits by means of which they may be operated in multiple-arcor parallel circuit. lVhcn a number of such generators are connected inmultiple are to feed the same working-circuit, it is necessary to havethe generators all working substantially in unisonthat is, they shouldbe at substantially the same potential. Otherwise, the current producedby one of the dynamos will tend to drive the other dynamo operating at aless potential backward as a motor. To accomplish this purpose, thedynamos are connected together by What is termed a neutral conductor,which aids in maintaining the balance or potential of all the dynamos inthe circuit. When these dynamos or generators are connected to ordisconnected from the working-circuit and the neutral wire, in order toprevent accidents tending to destroy the generator or reverse it orotherwise interfere with its operation, it has been necessary to breakthe circuits in a certain definite order, as the positive, neutral, andnegative con ductors, and any variation from this is liable to burn thearmature or reverse the generator which is being cut in orou t, andthereby injuri ng the brushes, commutator, or other parts. in order toprevent any possibility of such accidents occurring, the object of myinvention is to so arrange the circuits in connection with thegenerators and to use such apparatus that will prevent the possibilityof such accidents; and my invention consists in the method of andapparatus for controlling the circuits in such a manner that all ofthese circuits will be opened or closed at practically the same in stantof time, and it will be impossible to open or close them throughinadvertence or by unskilled persons in the wrong order, which wouldresult in the evils before referred to.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a system of circuits andmeans for controlling them involving my invention. Fig. 2 is a sideview, and Fig. 3 a plan, of a switch device which I prefer to use inconnection therewith.

In the drawings, A and B represent, respectively, the plus and minusconductors of the working-circuit, including lamps or other translatingdevices X.

C C C are diagrammatic representations of compoundwound dynamo machinesor generators, any number of which may be used, and may be connected inmultiple are so as to feed into the working-circuits A B. The conductorA, which we will suppose to be the plus or positive conductor, isconnected by the conductors co a a to the brushes D, bearing on thecommutator E of each machine, and the conductor or working-circuit B,which we will assume to be the minus or negative conductor, is connectedby the conductors Z) b b with the terminals of the field-magnet coils Fof each machine. The direct shunts for the field-magnets between thebrushes D and G are indicated by the coils H. The neutral conductor I isconnected by the wires it" 2' to the brush G of each of the generators.Under these connections if, forinstance, the negative conductor 1) wasopened before the positive conductor a was opened, it is manifest thatan abnormal current would pass through the armature and brushes of thegenerator 0, which would be liable to destroy or injure the generator,and in order that this cannot take place I inter-pose in the conductorsto Z) "5, connecting the working-circuits A B and the neutral conductorI, a switch device K K K which is so arranged that all of the threecircuits will be opened or closed practically at the same instant.

Vhile any switch device having the capabilities required may be used, Ihave illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 what I consider to be the best form ofswitch. represents a base, of some insulating material, upon which aremounted the sockets M, having terminals on and set-screws m for thereception of the ends of the conductors, and pivoted in these socketsare the conductingarms N, which are normally held open by a In thesefigures, L

spring 0 or equivalent device, and which are adapted to fit into thejaws P, which are in turn provided with terminals 19 and set-screws pfor the reception of the complementary ends of the conductors. Thesearms N, of which there are three shown inthe'drawings, are connected byan insulating-piece Q, provided with a handle R, by which they may beoperated simultaneously, so that they may all be caused to open or closetheir respective circuits practically at the same instant of time.

Under these constructions and arrangements it will be seen that all theconductors leading to the compound-wound generator are simultaneouslyopened or closed, thereby rendering it impossible to so open or closethe circuits thereof as to cause it to be injured or destroyed by theexcessive or abnormal current passing through the generator or anyportion thereof, and all danger of motoring or reversing or injuring thedynamo is avoided.

What I claim is 1. A method of connecting compoundwound dynamo-machinesin multiple arc with the working-circuit, which consists insimultaneously making or breaking the positive, neutral, and negativecircuits leading from the dynamo, substantially as described.

2. The method of connecting compoundwound dynamo-machines in multiplearc with the working-circuit, which consists in simultaneously making orbreaking the positive, negative, and neutral conductors connected withsaid machine and with the main circuit, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the working circuit and compound-Woundgenerators connected in multiple arc therewith, of a neutral circuit anda three-point switch interposed between the generator and circuits andarranged to make or break the positive, neutral, and negative circuitssimultaneously, substantially as described.

4. The combination, in a system of electric generation wherein thegenerators are connected in multiple arc with the working-circuit, of aswitch consisting of a base having three sets of terminals connected,respectively, with the positive, neutral, and. negative conductors orthe generator, and three switchbars connected together and adapted toopen and close the three circuits simultaneously, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnes es.

' CHARLES T. CHILD.

Witnesses:

JAMES S. MILNER, W. S. MCARTHUR.

